Umbrella



(No Model.)

J. n. NESBITT.

UMBRELLA.

No. 351,280. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

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1 UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

' JOHN D. NESBITT, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,280, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed November 23, 1885. Serial No. 183.613.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. Nnsnrr'r, of Everett, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusettshave invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Umbre1las,'of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of an umbrella embodying my improvement, represented as opened; Fig. 2, a diagram representing one of the ribs partially opened; Fig. 3, a like view representing one of the braces pushed upwardly on the staff preparatory to folding; Fig. 4, a diagram showing the position of the ribs and braces when folded; Fig. 5, a side elevation showing a modification of the rib, and Fig. 6 a transverse section taken on line a: a: in Fig. 3.

Likeletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the draw- 111 's.

ldy invention relates to that class of u1nbrellas which are adapted to be folded for packing or transportation; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more effective and otherwise desirable article of this character is produced that is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all c011- versant with such matters from the following explanation. t

In the drawings, A represents the body of the staff; B, the extension-piece, and O the handle.

Fitted to slide on the upper portion of the staff Athere is asleeve, D, and on the staff A and extension-piece B there are two sleeves, E L, said sleeves being technically known as notches! A series of radially arranged downwardly-inclined ribs, H, are jointed at their upper ends to the sleeve D, each of said ribs being provided at its outer end with an extension or auxiliary rib, J, which is connected thereto by a rule-joint, to, thereby adapting it to be folded upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4,

(No model.)

but not permitting it to fall unduly below the line of the main rib H, to which itis attached. Each of the ribs H is provided with a brace, K, the lower or inner ends of said braces being jointed to the sleeve L and the upper ends to the ribs H at f. Each of the braces K is provided with an auxiliary brace, N, the upper end of which is jointed thereto at z, the lower end being jointed to the sleeve E at t.

Permanently attached to the lower end of the staff A, and forming a partthereof, there is a tube, l\1[, provided with an elongated slot, (1.

The extension-piece B is reduced at its upper end, as seen at g, and provided with an ordinary spring-catch, r, for attaching it to the staff A, the reduced portion being inserted in the lower end of the tube M, and the springeatch '1' protruding through the slot d when said extension-piece is in position for use, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. A tube, 0, having an elongated slot, r, is also permanently attached to the lower end of the extensionpiece B and forms a part thereof, the upper end of the handle 0 being reduced in size and provided with an ordinary springcatch, m, for attaching it to the extension-piece, the reduced portion of the handle being inserted in the lower end of the tube 0, and its springcatch on protruding through the slot 11 when the handle is in position for use, as shown in Fig. 1.

An elongated sleeve, Q, is fitted to slide on the staff A and extension-piece B, said sleeve being arranged within the sleeve E, and provided with an annular flange, k,at either end, to prevent it from being withdrawn from said last-named sleeve.

The staff A is provided near its lower end with an elongated laterally-opcning slot, j, in which is disposed a spring-catch, It, which protrudes from said slot when not depressed. This spring-catch is provided with suitable stops to prevent it from rising too high or dropping too low in the slot, and is formed with a centrally-arranged depression, t, for receiving the narrow sleeve L when the 111m brella is opened, as shown in Fig.1. The stafi A is also provided near its upper end with an elongated laterally-opening slot, y, and springcatch T, corresponding substantially in construction with the slot j and spring-catch R,

the spring-catch T being provided with a centrally-arrangcd depression, 6, for receiving the sleeve D when the umbrella is opened, as shown in Fig. 1, and also with suitable stops for preventing said spring from rising too high or dropping too low in the slot.

The body or covering 1? of the umbrella is composed of silk or other suitable material, and is attached to the ribs or frame-work in the usual manner.

Instead of constructing each of the main ribs H with one auxiliary rib J, I sometimes, when the umbrellais of large size, provide them with two, as shown at J w in Fig. 5, the outer rib, 10, being hinged to the outer end of the rib J in substantially the same manner that the rib J is hinged to the rib H. I also sometimes form a depression, h, immediately above each of the joints a, for receiving the folds of the body or covering P when the auxiliary ribs are turned down onto the main ribs in folding the umbrella.

The tube M is flattened on that side through which the spring-catch r protrudes, as shown in Fig. 6, to enable the sleeves E Q to pass over said spring cat-ch r without depressing it and separating the extension-piece Bfrom the staff A. The tube-O is'also constructed in like manner to prevent the sleeve from disengaging the handle 0 fronr the extension-piece B.

The spring-catch T is downwardly inclined at either side of its central depression, to permit the sleeve D to pass readily over it when it is depressed, the spring-catch B being correspondingly constructed to permit the passage of the sleeves L E Q.

A flanged tip, F, is attached to the upper end of the staff A, to protect said staff and also prevent the sleeve D from passing off over the end of the staff when the umbrella is folded, as shown in Fig. 4. Any suitable stop may, however, be employed for this purpose, and instead of 'the tip Fany other suitable tip may be used, the tip being made detachable, if desired, to shorten the staff when the umbrella is folded.

In the use of my improvement, the uinbrella being distended or opened, as shown in Fig. 1, if, now, it is desired to close it after the manner of an ordinary umbrella, the sleeve Q is pushed upwardly within the sleeve E on the staff A until it engages and depresses the spring-catch B, thereby liberating the sleeve L from said spring, after which the sleeves L E Q are drawn downwardly on the extension-piece B, as shown in Fig. 2. WVhen it is desired to fold the umbrella for packing, the sleeve Q is pushed upwardly until it engages the spring catch R, liberates the sleeve L, and said last-named sleeve is forced upwardly past the center, or above the plane of the joints f, as shown in Fig. 3, after which the sleeves Q E are drawn down over the spring-catch B into the position shown in Fig. 3, and the auxiliary ribs folded outwardly down onto the main ribs H, as shown in Fig. 4. The spring-catch T is then disengaged from the sleeve D and the staff A pushed inwardly until the flanged tip F is brought against the sleeve D, as shown in Fig. 4. The handle 0 is then disconnected from the extension-piece B and said extension-piece detached from the staff A, after which it will be obvious the umbrella may be packed in a comparatively small space. The handle G, being made detachable, enables the handle to be readily changed as often as required, thus enabling several styles or kinds of handles to be used with one framework or top.

I do not confine myself to the use of the eX- tension-piece B, as the handle 0 may be connected directly with the staff A, if desired, being of course made of greater length when the extension-piece is not employed. Neither do I confine myself to making the tubes M O flat on one side, as shownat in Fig. 6, as the same result may be accomplished by making a longitudinal corrugation or groove on the interior of the sleeve Q of sufficient depth to enable the sleeve to pass the spring-catches r m, when desired, without depressing .them. By making the tubes M O of less diameter than the extension-piece B, the sleeve Q may also be passed over the spring-catches r m without depressing them, and the extensionpiece B and handle 0 thereby prevented from becoming detached. Neither do I confine myself to so constructing and arranging the sleeve D as to slide on the staff A, as said sleeve may be secured permanently to the staff, if preferred.

It will be obvious that the improvement is equally well adapted to parasols, sunshades, 86G. 1

As my present invent-ion is designed as an improvement on the umbrella secured to me by Letters Patent of the United States No. 324,581, dated August 18, 1885, I do not therefore herein claim anything shown or described in said Letters Patent when in and'of itself considered.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is-v 1. In an umbrella of the character described, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a staff, a handle detachably connected with said staff, a sleeve disposed near the upper end of said staff, a series of radially-arranged main ribs jointed to said sleeve, and provided with auxiliary ribs j ointed to said main ribs and adapted to be folded, a series of main braces jointed at the outer ends to said main ribs and at their inner ends to a sleeve adapted to slide on the body of the staff, a spring-catch for the sleeve, to which the .main braces are jointed, a series of auxiliary braces jointed at their outer ends to the main braces and at their inner ends to asleeve adapted to slide on the staff, a sleeve disposed on the staff within the sleeve to which the auxiliary braces are jointed, and adapted to release the-sleeve to which the main braces or cover, substantially as described.

2. In an umbrella, the sleeve Q, in combination with the staff A, sleeve E, spring-catch R, and braces N K, substantially as set forth.

3. In an umbrella, the spring-catch R, provided with the depression 15, in combination with the sleeve L, braces N K, sleeve E, and means for depressing said catch and releasing the sleeve L, substantially as described.

a. In an umbrella, the staff Aand sleeve Q, sliding on said stafi, in combination with the sleeve E, sliding upon, but shorter than said sleeve Q, and braces connected with said sleeve E, as and for the purpose described.

5. In an umbrella, the-staff A ,provided with the flanged tip F, in combination with the spring-catch T, sleeve D, and ribs H, substantially as described.

6. In an umbrella, the tube M, flattened at the side through which the springcatch 1' pro trudes,to enable the sleeve Q to pass over said spring without depressing it, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an umbrella, aistaff, a series of ribs pivoted at their upper ends to said staff, a series of main braces pivoted at their outer ends to said ribs and at their inner ends to a sleeve adapted to slide on the staff, said braces being approximately horizontal when the urnbrella is open, and a series of auxiliary braces shorter than the main braces, pivoted at their outer ends to said main braces and at their inner ends to a sleeve adapted to slide on the staff, whereby the main braces can be folded either upwardly or downwardly to close the umbrella.

8. In an umbrella, a staff, a series of ribs pivoted at their upper ends to said staff, a series of main bracesfpivotedat their outer ends to said ribs and at their inner ends to a sleeve adapted to slide on the staff, said braces being approximately horizontal when the umbrella is open, and a series of auxiliary braces shorter than the main braces pivoted at their outer ends to said main braces and at their inner ends to a sleeve adapted to slide on the staff below thezsleeve to whiehthe main braces'are pivoted, whereby the main braces can be folded either upwardly or downwardly to close the umbrella.

9. In an umbrella, a staff provided near its upper end with a spring-catch, aseries of ribs pivoted at their upper ends to a sleeve adapted to be engaged by said spring-catch when the umbrella is open, a series of main braces pivoted at their outer ends to said ribs and at their inner ends to alsleevejiadaptedl to slide on the staff, said braces being approximately horizontal when the unibrellais open, and a series of auxiliary braces shorter than the main braces,pivoted at their outer ends to said main braces and at their inner ends to a sleeve adapted to slide on the staff, whereby the main braces can be folded either upwardly or downwardly to close the umbrella.

JOHN D. NESBITT.

Witnesses:

O. A. SHAW, L. J. IVHITE. 

